County board chairman addresses LWV annual meeting

Saturday

Jun 22, 2013 at 8:30 AM

Describes service on board

Margi Washburn

Tim Wells, chairman of the Henry County Board, gave am uplifting and often humorous talk at the League of Women Voters annual meeting at The Kewanee Dunes.Wells told the members and guests he moved back to the area in 2001, and described himself as a “boomerang.” “I was gone for a while, then came back,” Wells said. “I did graduate from the University of Annawan,” he said, adding that it was much more than an education.Wells, his brothers and a sister grew up on a dairy farm where they always had something to do. He learned early on to get things done, and in 2010 when he ran for the county board for the first time, his platform was that he wanted to become chairman, because, he said, “I wanted to get things done. I didn’t care how they used to do it, or if it was never done that way before, I just wanted to be efficient.”By December, he was elected chairman by a split vote of 13 to 11, Republicans versus Democrats, and was the first county board chairman to hold the majority in 22 years.In 2012, Wells tried to see how they could get rid of the political system at the county level, believing the current system was more a hindrance than a positive. “It takes 28 signatures for a Democratic ballot, 29 for a Republican ballot, and 300 signatures to get on as an Independent. The system is stacked against it.”Wells was told the county would never have ethanol in the region, or wind turbines. Today, there are two ethanol facilities and 186 wind turbines.Wells acknowledged there is some debate on the turbines. “Are they positive or negative?” he asked. “Even now the southern half of Henry County is referred to as the new red-light district.”When the wind farm was put into commission in September of last year, it brought in over $2.1 million in new taxes. Wells noted the money goes into schools, townships, the county and all the elements in between. “That is a big deal,” he said. “I’m very proud of that fact.”People also question the benefits of producing ethanol, and Wells pointed out, “It’s a lot better than foreign oil.” He said the entire 26 percent protein portion at the end of the ethanol process is sold to China. “They’re paying $15 a ton premium for it, and all the shipping costs.”Wells praised the Rock River Arms business in Colona, noting that Israel purchases firearms from there.Wells said he focuses on the three Es: economic development, education and employment. “Those all drive each other,” he said.He noted Black Hawk College offers a renewable energy degree, and are now working on a gunsmithing degree by working with gun manufacturers, using state-of-the-art machining.Besides informing the group about the board, Wells said he was also on a recruiting mission. He encouraged those in the League to run for the board, saying there were six women out of 20 members, with the youngest at 24 years old and the oldest at 77. He said it was a diverse group, and that diversity is needed with issues that will come at them in the future.Wells said each board meeting is opened with a prayer by board chaplain Kathy Nelson. Public comment was moved from the bottom to the top of the agenda so people can state their opinions before the board gets into action items.In answer to the question of the main purpose of the board, Wells said their focus is on fiscal responsibility, providing direction, and committing to fair policies for all.“I would really hope that in 2016 we will be debt-free in the county,” Wells said.Future economic development project ideas include transportation, gun manufacturing and renewable energy. Wells said he was proud of the national USDA and Economic Grant that resulted in a full-time director, Kathleen Repass, and a part-time support assistant, Katie Hobbs.“We have a lot of talent,” Wells said. “This is a vibrant county, rich in abundance and heritage, with natural resources and hard-working citizens. The greatest asset in our county is our people.”